Vice President of Special Education

Join a mission-driven organization providing specialized education and behavioral support to students who need a more individualized, therapeutic learning environment. This senior leadership role reports directly to the CEO and provides strategic oversight of the school’s educational programming, leadership, compliance, staffing, and student outcomes.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Employer-supported HSA options
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability
• Company-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution for eligible employees
• Generous paid vacation, sick, and personal time
• 12 company holidays
• Voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital coverage
• Executive-level leadership opportunity with direct access to senior leadership

• Connecticut Intermediate Administration or Supervision Certification,
  Endorsement #092
• Connecticut Special Education Endorsement #165 OR School Social Work Endorsement #071
• 5+ years of educational administration experience
• Strong knowledge of special education regulations, IEPs, educator certification, and compliance
• Experience leading educational programs, administrators, and multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to obtain and maintain required CPR, First Aid, and crisis intervention certifications

• Provide leadership and accountability to the school Principal while remaining closely connected to day-to-day school operations
• Lead regulatory, accreditation, certification, and recertification efforts
• Oversee complex IEP, staffing, educator credentialing, and compliance matters
• Guide enrollment, referral, census, staffing, and educational resource planning
• Build strong collaboration across educational, clinical, and behavioral health teams
• Lead effectively in a therapeutic environment serving students with significant emotional and behavioral needs
• Navigate employee relations and a unionized workforce while building a positive, accountable culture

• Leadership experience within a therapeutic school, clinical day school, approved private special education program, residential school, or similar setting
• Experience with Connecticut special education regulations and State Department of Education requirements
• Exposure to DCF, Joint Commission, accreditation, audit, or recertification processes
• Experience leading teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with CT SEDS, SEED, TEAM, Care Logic, and ADP
• Strong change-management, staff-development, and quality-improvement experience

Samantha Mc Dermott